Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C M Smith

Publications and source records attributed to C M Smith.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Compositional effects on milk fat crystallization.

Seasonal and regional variability in milk fat composition causes differences in crystallization behavior, which can, for example, result in variability in fractionation efficiency and physical properties of butter. However, the specific compositional causes of variability in milk fat crystallization behavior are still only poorly understood. In this work, the seasonal and regional variations in composition of anhydrous milk fat were analyzed and related to crystallization behavior. Although there were no clear-cut trends in chemical composition (triacylglycerol, fatty acid, and minor lipid profiles) among the milk fats, significant differences in crystallization behavior were observed. For anhydrous milk fat samples made from sweet cream and obtained from the same milk supply through a period of 14 mo, no significant trends in either composition or crystallization behavior were observed. This suggests that seasonal variability of milk fat may be reduced by current feeding strategies in the United States. More detailed examination of the triacylglycerol profiles led to the conclusion that the relative contents of certain triacylglycerol combinations correlated well with crystallization behavior. In particular, the ratio of higher-melting to lower-melting triacylglycerols could be used to predict crystallization behavior. Higher ratios of higher-melting triacylglycerols led to higher crystallization rate.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Antifouling activity of six nontoxic chemicals on spore attachment of Ulva fasciata.

Marine biofouling cause severe damage to all marine technologies. Indiscriminate use of toxic metallic antifouling (AF) chemicals (cuprous oxide and TBT) to control the biofouling in turn greatly affects the flora and fauna of the marine ecosystem. In search of environmentally safe and effective AF agents, six nontoxic AF candidates were studied against the spore attachment of Ulva fasciata. Spore attachment was inhibited at 100 microg of trans-cinnamic acid (TCA) and benzoic acid (BA). Sulfate-coumaric acid (SCA) had no significant effect on the spore attachment. The release rate of BA exhibited a constant release flow. Varied response of U. fasciata spores to AF chemicals and release rate to the surrounding medium are discussed.

Acids↗
PubMed2001

Minimum effective release rate of antifoulants.1. Effects of zosteric acid at Ford Island, Hawaii (USA).

Minimum effective release rate (MERR) of zosteric acid (ZA) was studied at Ford Island. At laboratory condition, spore attachment in Enteromorpha intestinalis was inhibited significantly at 28.2 microg cm2 of ZA. More than 95% reduction in spore attachment was achieved in Ulva fasciata at 2,000 microM of ZA through membrane diffusion system. At 40 cm depth level larval settlement was high with maximum number of Hydroides elegans settlement. The overall larval settlement was increased with increasing days of exposure. The MERR of 10 microg cm(-2) d(-1) ZA inhibited 50% of the larval settlement. However, the inhibition rate was not proportionate to the antifouling ZA concentration. Using MERR membrane diffusion system an effective antifouling strategy was suggested for Ford Island.

Acids↗
PubMed2000

Has familial aggregation in Alzheimer's disease been overestimated?

Studies of the familial aggregation of Alzheimer's disease have primarily used samples ascertained from tertiary care clinics which may not be representative of many AD patients, for example those residing at geriatric nursing homes. Survival analysis was used to investigate whether estimates of familial aggregation of AD based on a clinic-based AD proband (C-AD) sample (probands: N=544; first degree relatives; N=4267) differ from one ascertained at a nursing home (NH-AD; probands: N=225; first degree relatives; N=1772). The cumulative survival from AD was significantly worse in relatives of the C-AD probands and the overall relative risk (RR) of AD in this group was greater than twice that of relatives of the NH-AD probands. However, age at onset in C-AD probands was significantly earlier than in the NH-AD group and in both groups this factor was negatively associated with familial aggregation. When, for this reason, the proband samples were matched one-to-one by age at onset, dropping those probands with no match, the two curves were close to identical and the RR for the C-AD group of relatives was 1.0 The results suggest that estimates of familial risk of AD based on C-AD samples are not applicable and overestimate the extent of increased risk for relatives of more prevalent, later onset AD probands. However, the overestimate can be explained by the typically earlier age at onset in C-AD samples as opposed to a sampling bias related to the proband's family history status per se. The relationship between onset age and familial aggregation suggests that no single estimate of the age-dependent risk (survival curve) is uniformly appropriate for relatives of AD probands.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of coeliac disease and longitudinal follow-up of antigliadin antibody status in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Coeliac disease (CD) is more prevalent in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), and when untreated is associated with a number of medical complications, including poor glycaemic control. Identification of patients with CD has been facilitated in recent years by serological screening, including the use of antigliadin antibodies (AGAs) and endomysial antibodies (EMAs). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CD in a clinic-based paediatric population with type 1 DM, and to study longitudinal changes in AGA status. Two-hundred-and-eighty-one children and adolescents with type 1 DM aged 9.9 +/- 3.8 yr were screened using AGAs of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) classes (AGA-IgA and AGA-IgG). Thirty-five patients had both antibodies positive and underwent gastro-duodenoscopy and multiple biopsies. Fifteen of the 35 patients had histological evidence of CD, and the overall clinic prevalence of CD was 5.7%. A number of patients did not exhibit florid symptoms, and recurrent unexplained hypoglycaemia was a significant finding. Patients who perceived themselves to be asymptomatic had more problems with compliance with a gluten-free diet (GFD). Ninety-seven patients had follow-up AGAs performed after 2.5 +/- 1.5 yr. One patient with initially normal AGAs developed positive antibodies and histological findings of CD. Antibody status has fluctuated in other patients. CD is common in patients with DM, and diagnosis is important to detect to minimize long-term morbidity related to both disorders. Initial normal screening does not exclude CD and repeat screening is indicated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Chemoprophylaxis is effective in the prevention of leprosy in endemic countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. MILEP2 Study Group. Mucosal Immunology of Leprosy.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the efficacy of chemoprophylaxis against leprosy. METHOD: Literature searching of Medline and Embase databases, hand-searching of references and correspondence with investigators. STUDY SELECTION: published papers relating to the prevention of leprosy and the use of chemotherapy in leprosy were identified for critical appraisal. Trials were selected and grouped into three categories according to study design and control groups. DATA ANALYSIS: the relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated from the original data using a random effects model. To assess the cost-effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis, a further analysis of the rates of disease in the trial and control groups was done based on the numbers needed to be treated (NNT) to prevent one new case of leprosy. RESULTS: A total of 14 trials were identified from 127 published papers on chemoprophylaxis of leprosy. The trials were categorized into randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and uncontrolled trials. The overall results of the meta-analysis shows that chemoprophylaxis gives around 60% protection against leprosy. The NNT are low in trials of household contacts. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence shows that chemoprophylaxis against leprosy is an effective way to reduce the incidence of leprosy, particularly in household contacts. The role of chemoprophylaxis needs to be re-examined using newer drugs given the continuing case detection rates globally.

Acedapsone↗
PubMed2000

Feeding efficiency and respiratory integration in infants with acute viral bronchiolitis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of bronchiolitis on feeding efficiency and respiratory integration. STUDY DESIGN: We studied 21 infants with bronchiolitis and 21 bottle-fed healthy infants who formed a comparison group. Repeat evaluations of half the bronchiolitis group were performed during recovery. During each feeding study we measured the duration and frequency of sucking, the frequency of single and multiple swallows, the respiratory rate, the postswallow respiratory direction, and the suck and swallow volumes. RESULTS: The infants with bronchiolitis devoted significantly less time to sucking than their healthy peers (P <.05), and the mean suck volume was reduced. Although the frequency of swallowing was slightly higher, the volume of milk consumed per swallow was almost half the amount consumed by the comparison group (P <.01). Coordination of breathing with swallowing was also less effective (P <.01). CONCLUSION: Although most aspects of feeding are less efficient during periods of respiratory illness, others are preserved or recover rapidly. Coordination of breathing during feeding is also significantly impaired.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

False expectations? Expectations vs. probabilities for dying.

It is widely recognized that the code of the physician has undergone dramatic changes in the last century--changes which have serious implications for the patient-physician relationship. This is an ethnographic study examining how certain changes in the role and abilities of biomedical physicians have affected patient attitudes and expectations about end-of-life care. In-home interviews were conducted with eighteen persons age fifty-five and older, including a sample of Hemlock Society members. Results indicate a broad spectrum of end-of-life concerns including capacity, autonomy, pain, and burden to loved ones. Most participants reported a reluctance to begin a discussion of death or future deteriorating capacity with their physicians. Instead, when conversations about death were reported, they had been largely limited to the scenarios of catastrophic illness (e.g., hospitalization, ventilator, etc.) and the Living Will. While this discussion does not overlook the utility of the Living Will, it proposes the reliance on this document for preparing patients for end-of-life care is inadequate.

Advance Care Planning↗
PubMed2000

Iontophoresis treatment of basal cell carcinoma with cisplatin: a case report.

Iontophoresis is a process that uses electrical current to increase the flux of ionized substances through tissue. Iontophoresis has been used in rehabilitation to decrease inflammation and pain using dexamethasone and lidocaine. In 1993, Chang et al. reported visual improvements in the lesions of nine patients diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) following iontophoresis of cisplatin. The present case report describes the successful treatment of a 67-year-old male with a histologically confirmed BCC on his upper anterolateral left leg. The treatment consisted of four cycles of five successive days of cisplatin iontophoresis, with a 2-week rest period between cycles. The cisplatin solution (5 mL at 1 mg/mL) was used in combination with epinephrine hydrochloride. The effectiveness of the treatment was confirmed by post-treatment biopsies, which revealed granulation tissue scarring without evidence of BCC. Measurements of cellular proliferation were monitored immunohistochemically with Ki-67 and cell cycle distribution analyzed by flow cytometry.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Liver transplantation in the United States: a report from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

UNLABELLED: TRANSPLANTS AND CENTERS: Between 1988-1999 the number of annual liver transplants performed in the United States more than doubled, from 1,713 to 4,689; the number of centers increased from 59 to 117. The number of living donor, segmental, and multiple organ transplants also increased over time, particularly between 1997-1999. The rate of increase in the number of centers has slowed over the last few years. OUTCOMES: Survival among pediatric recipients The one- and 10-year graft survival rates for pediatric recipients were 76% and 63%, respectively. The one- and 10-year patient survival rates were 85% and 78%. Patient survival did not decrease much after the first 2 years and graft survival stabilized after 5 years. Some of the factors associated with increased odds of graft failure and patient death at 6 months after transplantation included having a previous transplant; being hospitalized, in the ICU, or on life support at the time of transplant; a creatinine level > 2 mg/dl; donor race/ethnicity; and transplant type. Factors associated with decreased odds of graft failure or patient death were recipient gender, having a metabolic disease, and a shorter than average cold ischemia time. Among grafts, recipients surviving the first 6 months after transplantation, recipient and donor race/ethnicity, primary liver disease, and having a previous transplant were associated with a greater relative risk of graft failure and mortality. The risk of graft failure was reduced for recipients in the ICU at the time of transplant and for those receiving organs from younger donors. Survival among adult recipients The one- and 10-year graft survival rates among adult recipients were 79% and 51%, respectively. The one- and 10-year patient survival rates were 85% and 59%. Survival rates decreased steadily at all time points following transplantation. Some of the factors associated with increased odds of graft failure and mortality at 6 months were increasing recipient and donor age; recipient and donor race/ethnicity; primary liver disease; having a previous transplant; being hospitalized, in the ICU, or on life support at the time of transplant; longer cold ischemia time; having a non-identical recipient/donor blood type match; transplant type; and year of transplant. Younger recipient and donor ages, having cholestatic liver disease/cirrhosis, shorter cold ischemia times, and matching male recipients with male donors were associated with decreased odds of graft failure and mortality. Many of these characteristics also affected grafts and patients surviving the first 6 months, including recipient and donor age, recipient and donor race/ethnicity, primary liver disease, previous transplant, and year of transplant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Atrial septostomy as a bridge to lung transplantation in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Long waiting times for lung transplantation have limited the survival of patients with advanced pulmonary hypertension. Atrial septostomy has been used in this group of patients in an attempt to prolong survival. We evaluated the results of atrial septostomy in 12 patients using the static graded balloon dilation technique. Between December 1990 and May 1998, 10 women and 2 men (ages 13 to 56 years, mean 37 years) underwent atrial septostomy. Nine patients had primary and 3 patents had secondary pulmonary hypertension. Five patients deteriorated despite long-term intravenous prostacyclin infusions. The atrial septum was crossed with a Brockenbrough needle, followed by an 0.035-J exchange wire and progressively larger catheter balloons for atrial septal dilation, until systemic oxygen saturation decreased 5% to 10%. An atrial septal defect was successfully created in each patient. The mean right atrial pressure decreased from 23 to 18 mm Hg and the mean systemic oxygen saturation decreased from 93% to 85%. The mean cardiac index increased from 1.7 to 2.1 L/min/m2 and the mean systemic oxygen transport increased from 268 to 317 ml/min/m2. Complications occurred in 3 patients: transient hypotension during transesophageal echocardiography, a femoral pseudoaneurysm, and a femoral arteriovenous fistula. After septostomy, 6 patients had clinical improvement (resolution of ascites, edema, and no further episodes of syncope); 5 of these 6 patients underwent lung transplantation a mean of 6.1 months after septostomy. Six patients did not have clinical improvement after septostomy. Atrial septostomy improves the hemodynamic status and may be useful as a bridge to lung transplantation in selected patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The protein kinase resource and other bioinformation resources.

The Internet, especially the World Wide Web has transformed how today's researchers communicate, share information, and analyze their data. Unfortunately, the vast number of online databases, information resources and analytical tools, some of them masked by unfamiliar titles and Internet addresses, has hindered their universal and effective use by the research community. To overcome these hurdles, subject- and function-specific compendiums are now available which organize information and online tolls in a manner familiar to the biological researcher. The Protein Kinase Resource and the CMS Molecular Biology Resource are two excellent examples of web compendia.

Databases as Topic↗